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under two general heads, viz.: non-contract and contract. While the department was inaugurated under the adverse and trying trade conditions of greatly disturbed and uncertain markets, the report shows great savings in certain lines of supplies purchased. While the principle and practice of this system appears to be sound and economical, it is not believed that so revolutionary a method should be recommended for the State of New York at the present time on account of the greater volume, wider diversity of supplies required and larger number of departments and institutions to be served.

THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM (ENGLAND)

For the city of Birmingham a " General Purposes Committee was created which presented their report to the council at the meeting held July 3, 1917. The report of the committee states that as a preliminary to their investigations, they obtained from the various departments particulars of their purchases of stores, with prices, and as to the manner in which these stores were received and distributed. "They also received valuable information and assistance from the Chief Officer of stores of the London County Council." A table is given of some stores in regular use by several committees with prices prevailing immediately prior to the outbreak of the war. Comparison of prices paid by the city of Birmingham for several classes of these supplies with the London County Council's prices show considerably in favor of the latter.

"The Corporation have in four instances already demonstrated the success of concentrated buying in the purchase of petrol .. coal . . . fodder . . . and stationery." "The two principles to be immediately considered are: (1) as to whether a central stores should be established . . . and (2) the establishment of a system of buying articles common to more than one committee under the direction of a special subcommittee or committee, assisted by the existing departmental buyers.

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ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

State Superintendent of Elections

For the Year 1917

FREDERICK L. MARSHALL, Superintendent

AUGUSTUS F. ALLEN, Chief Deputy
JACOB P. ROTHMANN, Secretary

TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE JANUARY 16, 1918

ALBANY

J. B. LYON COMPANY, PRINTERS

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